Lucknow: In a remarkable surge of interest, a historic 3.3 lakh candidates have registered for CAT 2023, marking a substantial 30% increase from the previous year’s 2.5 lakh registrations. CAT, the Common Admission Test, is the gateway to prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other renowned business schools. Scheduled for November 26, the test has seen an unprecedented rise in applications.
According to Prof Sanjeet Singh, the convener of CAT 2023 and a faculty member at IIM-Lucknow, this year’s registrations set an all-time high in the history of CAT since its inception in 1977. The increase of 75,000 applications year-on-year is a record in itself. It’s noteworthy that the surge in numbers is not a one-time phenomenon; last year, the increase was a notable 11%.
Experts attribute this surge to the sustained interest among students in the field of management and IIMs. Prof Singh suggested that the heightened presence of CAT on social media platforms and the expansion of test cities, particularly in tier-II cities, contributed significantly to this surge.
The total of 3.3 lakh registrations includes 1.17 lakh female candidates, constituting 38% of the total. This represents a 3% increase in female registrations, indicating the ongoing efforts by IIMs to promote gender diversity in management education. Over the past decade, IIMs have taken several initiatives to increase the representation of female students, resulting in a range of 30% to 45% female students on their campuses.
Before this record-breaking year, CAT’s highest-ever registration numbers stood at around 2.9 lakh, a figure reached in 2008 when the test was conducted in a pen-and-paper format. The transition to a computer-based test in 2009 saw fluctuations in registration numbers, but this year’s record has set a new benchmark.
The surge in registrations for CAT 2023 signifies the enduring appeal of management education and the strong desire among candidates to secure seats in prestigious institutions like the IIMs. As CAT continues to evolve and expand its reach, it remains a critical milestone for those aspiring to embark on successful management careers.
